PATRIA

PATRIA AVIATION OY (Subsidiary of Patria Industries Oy)

Patria Aviation (formerly Patria Finavitec) and its Valmet predecessors have built 30 types of aircraft, including 19 of Finnish design, since 1922; current activities include production of aircraft and aero-engine parts; and maintenance, overhaul, repair and modification of aircraft, aero-engines and their accessories. Workforce was 1,300 in 2000, including approximately 100 in Patria Ostermans Aero AB, a Swedish helicopter maintenance company acquired in 1999. Patria Aviation currently manufactures rear and centre fuselage sections for the Embraer ERJ-135/145 under subcontract to Sonaca of Belgium, to which first shipsets were delivered in second half of 1998. MoUs signed in December 1999 by Patria Finavitec and Airbus Industrie for former to take part in conceptual definition of A380 and to explore other possible industrial co-operation. Agreed in September 2000 to support Sikorsky bid of S-92 for Nordic Standard Helicopter Programme (NSHP) requirement but, following selection of EHI and NHI as joint winners, Patria contracted on 19 October 2001 to assemble 50 NH90s and associated RTM322 engines at Jamsa and Linnavuori, respectively, deliveries taking place between 2004 and 2009. In June 2001, EADS acquired a 26.8 per cent interest in parent company Patria Industries Oy.